Staircase design

Biljana Jovanovic, Croatian architect based in Budapest (Hungary), has completed the apartment with unique decorative staircase. The Emmental Stairs was designed for young and creative family with two small children to combine several functions. Firstly, of course, it provides the connection between first and second floors of the house. Secondly, it visually divides the space of the first floor into dining room and living room. Thirdly, it is great fun for children - "cheese holes" create the infinite field for games. Due to holes, like in Emmental cheese and white color the living space looks very light. Steps are fixed in a playful zigzag manner. According to the author, the triangular shape of the steps also solves the problem of the steepness of the stairs.

Take a look at the photos below. Feeling a bit dizzy? These are two unique, asymmetrical works of functional art - Banister-Bending Staircases by architect Alex Haw of Atmos. These amazing staircases created with the help of three-dimensional computer modeling and laser-cut materials are installed in London house. Everything is warped, bent and twisted even the balusters and banisters. The stairs and supporting elements were fabricated digitally, printed in flat-pack form from MDF. Such staircase is not only peculiar bridge between the floors, it is rather versatile being a supplemental seating as well as a filter for light and central decorative element. Add the element of fantasy to your house.

It’s great when you’re doing something yourself in your home. And I’m not talking of economy – it gives your home individuality and makes it unique. Danielle at Style-Files made these banisters of ordinary branches to add rustic feel which she claims is a general theme of her house. Of course these handrails are finished by a professional carpenter and probably would not look so great otherwise. The last picture is a handrail implementation by another internet user. Another problem that you might face when just sticking a regular piece of wood somewhere in your house is that it is very probable to have termites inside that will eventually destroy not only your handrails, but also some other wooden furniture. Such things should better be properly finished.

Stair design is very important because it has to meet a lot of requirements. Depending on the size of your residence the staircase can have wide or narrow steps and can be steep or not. If your place is not quite as big as celebrity’s house it might be a good idea to use the space under the stairs, for example by installing shelves like we discussed in this post. But the dimensions are not the trickiest side of stair design. Poorly looking staircase can make your home look ugly as well as the professionally designed stairs can fit in and contribute to the interior seamlessly, or even become a major trait, like the following stairs by professional designer Scale Nilur.